How does this work?

A few weeks ago (11th September), I was rear-ended at a roundabout whilst stationary (waiting for a gap in traffic). Couple of witnesses, police and ambulance turned up, I was breathalised (totally clear) and carted off to hospital.
I was given a form filled in by the police, with my details and the details of the chap who hit me, as well as his car details. He admitted liability to everyone at the scene. His girlfriend was in tears because she thought they had run me over (I managed to extract myself from underneath the bumper).

I kind of considered it a fairly open and shut case.

I have just received a letter from the solicitors (of Carole Nash) saying that the other bloke is now saying he wasn't involved!
I will obviously phone the sols tomorrow, but I'm rather incredulous. He must be incredibly stupid or something to try and pull that, unless the car was nicked, and he gave totally false details.

How much effort will the police go to, to find out who he is? They asked me to fill in a big form describing the accident, as well as asking whether I thought he should be presecuted for dangerous driving. He told me that he was taking his girlfriend to work, and whilst we were all swapping details, another car turned up - apparently someone his girlfriend worked with.

I assume that if they don't find him, I will lose my no claims bonus, as well as any compensation (my biggest injury was a fractured coccyx - pretty trivial to some of the injuries people on the board have suffered, tho a real pain in the bum!)?

Anyone else been in a similar position, and willing to give me an idea as to what to expect?

Thanks chums.

Rgds

Not too clued up regarding insurance (other than you can't trust them as far as you could throw them) but had plenty of experience with the police.

If you don't think they are looking hard enough get on the phone, every day, log all calls if you can't pester them into action ask for information on how to make a formal complaint. This worked for me trying get an officer to take a statement after I was assaulted.

If this doesn't work, a letter to someone very high up in the force can work wonders.

Hi.

In the case of personal injury then the police are supposed to attend the scene which they did in this case. If the police have done their job properly then they should get positive identification of all parties involved. This might have included the issue a producer.

Unfortunately the police are not always that quick to follow things like this up. I suffered a case of criminal damage to my car. I had the reg number of the car the other guy got into. It took the police 7 months to arrest him. Luckily I had an independent witness so the guy admitted if. They let him off with a caution so I lost any chance of compensation.

Hope you have better luck than I did.

Kind regards
Tim

Get some good solicitors (esp if you have legal cover). They will answer all these questions for you.

Thanks chaps.

I phoned the police this morning and they said that the driver has been offered a "driver improvement scheme", which means he has accepted guilt. As far as they are concerned, their involvement is over.
I phoned the solicitors (provided by Carole Nash) and they said that his insurers have said that he has claimed that he was in a totally different part of the country when the accident happened. My solicitor is going to speak to police and find out a bit more.

I wonder what crime he has committed by saying (to his insurers) that it wasn't him?

It seems to me like he hasn't really thought this through very well, but as my insurance is due for renewal at the end of the year, I hope it's sorted by then or I won't have any no-claims bonus (tho I'm assuming I can claim that back when the matter is resolved).

Rgds

My wife had a similar incident - cow in MR2 first said she was not involved, then she said that she had personal injury and was counter claiming (very light rear ending).

After many calls by my wife to Carol Nash, it was all sorted in the end and the MR2 cows insurers admitted liability in the absence of the cow being honest. I have no idea what happened to the cow but I know what might happen in the future as we have her address!

It is amazing what people will do to try and get out of it, but if you have Police witness etc I am sure it will get sorted in the end - keep on at Carol Nash to make sure they keep on the ball.

[BillyC]

If he's lying, technically it's fraud. Ultimately you can go back to the Police and ask them to press charges for his poor driving - that might get you somewhere.

Get copies of all the documents from the Police, this will have details of the car, the incident, and as follow up he should have done a producer - license, insurance etc. They will have these details.

[Biker Biggles]

Make sure the details you have supplied to Carole Nash are correct.Time ,date and place of incident.
If they are,get yourself a bike specialist lawyer(you may have cover for this on your insurance)and get them on it.Keep the Police informed as there may be a fraud issue or possibly an attempt to pervert the course of justice.This bloke will be hard pushed to claim an alibi if the Police nicked him on scene.

Originally Posted by Biker Biggles

Make sure the details you have supplied to Carole Nash are correct.Time ,date and place of incident.

That's excellent advice any time you're in an accident. First chance you get (same day at least) record -- on paper, via tape recorder, whatever -- all you can remember. What you were doing, what others were doing, positions of the vehicles, lights, everything.

Once you have it recorded, you can review it from time to time as everything progresses, so you don't start to manufacture memories. This will help in further statements and interviews.

Also, the OP demonstrates a good reason to get some photographs. Use your mobile phone or any camera, get a picture of the vehicles involved and the people if you can get away with it. It's hard to claim you were hundreds of miles away, if there's a picture of you standing next to the crushed bike.

surely should be open and shut, why's he been offered a driving improvement scheme if he wasn't even there! he's an idiot...